Willie Mullins' star Vauban staying in Australia for third Melbourne Cup tilt after sale

Days after the trainer floated a Cheltenham Festival campaign, the six-year-old is on his way to join the stable of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott

Willie Mullins’s Flat star Vauban has been sold and will continue his career in Australia.

Only on Sunday the champion trainer over jumps in Britain and Ireland floated the idea of aiming the six-year-old at the Stayers’ Hurdle at next year’s Cheltenham Festival.

This followed another tilt at the Melbourne Cup in which Vauban and Absurde were competing for the second time.

The pair had contested the race at Flemington 12 months earlier where Vauban finished 14th as the 9-2 favourite and Absurde seventh.

They only marginally improved their finishing places eight days ago with Vauban 11th and Absurde, fifth.

Vauban, winner of the Triumph Hurdle in 2022, has developed into a top notch Flat stayer, with wins in the Ascot Stakes at Royal Ascot and up to Group 2 level in the Lonsdale Cup at York.

After his latest defeat Mullins was inclined not to make any further trips down under with Vauban, who he believed did not enjoy the travelling.

Yet the gelding will now be prepared for a third challenge for the ‘race that stops a nation’ after his purchase by Australian Bloodstock, one of the world’s most successful syndicate ownership operations.

Australian Bloodstock have won two Melbourne Cups among their 935 winners, both with horses sourced in Europe, Gold Trip in 2022 and Protectionist in 2014.

Director Jamie Lovett told Mirror Racing: “Vauban is going to stay down here. Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott will train him. They were both very keen to secure the horse.

“We hope he can recapture his northern hemisphere form which was outstanding this year. We’re happy to forgive him his run in Australia and we are looking forward to what he can do next season for us.

“Having brought a lot of horses down I am always ready to forgive horses travelling off the plane. It’s not easy to do.”

Local reports have suggested Vauban’s new connections paid around £1 million to secure the horse from Susannah and Rich Ricci.

Lovett said: “I read that speculation. It’s not that much. That’s between the owner and ourselves, it’s not something for me to discuss.

“We’re just delighted to get a horse of his quality. His northern hemisphere campaign was right up there with some of the best horses in the world.

“To be able to get our hands on a horse like him is very exciting.“